September 27, 2013

Lawyers representing the State of Alabama and the Houston Economic Development Association (HEDA) presented their closing arguments in the Dothan bingo trial this week.

According to an article in the Dothan Eagle, the State argued that Circuit Judge Michael Conaway should rule in their favor because the machines seized in 2012 at Center Stage Alabama play themselves, which would make them illegal slot machines instead of machines that played the game of bingo in a different form.

According to state law, a slot machine is defined, in part, as a machine that accepts and/or ejects something of value.

HEDA claimed that the machines did not accept or eject anything of value, the Dothan Eagle reported. In its brief, HEDA says the State was able to view a machine in the courtroom and it did not contain currency adaptors, ticket printers or coin trays.

The State said the machines “spit out electronic cash value and credit balance information to a server, and the server told the cashier what cash winnings to give the customer,” according to the Dothan Eagle.

The Dothan Eagle also reported that if Conaway rules in favor of the State, the State can keep the money that was seized and destroy the machines. If he rules for HEDA, the machines and cash must be returned and HEDA may be able to operate the games again.

It is unclear when Conaway will make a decision in the case. Attempts to contact Conaway’s office were unsuccessful at press time. (TAB)